Safety Clamp

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present Application is a non-provisional of, and claims priority to, U.S. Patent Application No. 63/706,177, filed Oct. 11, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to pulling unit operations during repair or service in the oil and gas industry, and more particularly to a safety clamp that may be used in pulling unit operations during repair or service.

BACKGROUND

When repairs or service are needed in the oil and gas industry, pulling units may be used to help lift and remove or repair old or damaged pipes. During pulling unit operations, oil and gas crews may use rope or chain to keep the parts secured. However, ropes and chains can be unsecure, leading to injuries to fingers and hands when they fail.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a safety clamp that may reduce the risk of oil and gas crew injury during pulling unit operations. The safety clamp according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be used when parts are unsecured in between the load cell and the top polished rod clamp. The safety clamp may secure individual parts on the polished rod that may move during repair and/or maintenance of a well. The safety clamp according to embodiments of the present disclosure may attach to the load cell and polished rod, allowing the oil and gas crew to pull the well in a safer manner, minimizing the risk of injury.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may disclose a safety clamp system that attaches to a load cell and a polished rod during repair and maintenance of a well, the safety clamp system comprising: a safety clamp secured above a polished rod clamp; a steel cable; and one or more pinned shackles secured to an arm of the load cell, wherein the load cell is kept in tension and does not engage during a process of pulling the well. The safety clamp system is load tested with a working load of 500 pounds and an applied load of 1500 pounds.

Other embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a method for installation and use of a safety clamp on a load cell and a polished rod, the method comprising: removing a pin of a shackle of the safety clamp; lining eyes of the shackle up with a hole in an end of an arm of the load cell; placing the pin back in the shackle; tightening the pin; extending and opening the safety clamp; and securing the safety clamp above a polished rod clamp. The securing step also may include removing slack from a line; and tightening the safety clamp around the polished rod.

Further embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a method for installing a safety clamp assembly on a load cell and a polished rod, the method comprising: opening the safety clamp assembly; installing the safety clamp assembly directly on top of a polished rod clamp; removing a screw pin from a pinned shackle of the safety clamp assembly to install the shackle onto an arm of the load cell; identifying a rod rotator and an actuator lever; removing a spring cable from the actuator lever; and removing a screw pin from a pinned shackle of the safety clamp assembly to line holes of the pinned shackle up with a hole on the spring cable and replace the screw pin. The installing step may further include tightening the safety clamp assembly onto the polished rod. Installing the shackle onto the arm of the load cell may further comprise lining holes of the shackle and the load cell arm; and re-installing the screw pin. The screw pin may be facing downward when installing. The safety clamp assembly is not installed onto an s-hook of the load cell arm. The screw pin inserted into the hole on the spring cable is facing toward a body of the rod rotator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a safety clamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts another view of a safety clamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 depicts an installed safety clamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 depicts a safety clamp in operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 depicts another view of a safety clamp in operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 6A-6H depict steps for installing a safety clamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a safety clamp that may attach to a load cell and a polished rod during the repair and maintenance of a well. The oil and gas crew may pull the well in a safe manner, minimizing the risk of injury. A safety clamp according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include pinned shackles and a steel cable attached to the load cell and the single polished rod clamp. Using the safety clamp according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the load cell may be kept in tension and does not engage during the process of pulling the well. The safety clamp is load tested in embodiments of the present disclosure with a working load of 500 pounds and an applied load of 1500 pounds.

To install a safety clamp according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the pin may be removed for the 5/16 shackle. The eyes of the shackle may be lined up with the hole in the end of the load cell arm. The pin may then be placed back in the shackle and the load cell and tightened. The safety clamp may then be extended and opened. The safety clamp may be secured above the polished rod clamp. Slack may be removed from the line and the safety clamp may be tightened around the polished rod. The pulled assembly may then be laid down with the separate parts in tension.

FIG. 1 depicts a safety clamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 depicts another view of a safety clamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 depicts an installed safety clamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 depicts a safety clamp in operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 depicts another view of a safety clamp in operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 6A-6H depict steps for installing a safety clamp according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 6A, the safety clamp, cable, and shackles may be inspected to ensure that all parts are present and everything is in working order. In FIG. 6B, the nut should be loosened to the clamp, and the clamp assembly should be opened to prepare to be installed onto the polished rod. In FIG. 6C, the opened clamp assembly should be installed onto the polished rod. The clamp assembly should be installed directly on top of the polished rod clamp. The safety clamp should be tightened onto the polished rod. In FIG. 6D, the screw pin may be removed from the 5/16″ shackle, and the shackle may be installed onto the load cell arm. The holes should be lined up on the shackle and load cell arm, and the shackle screw pin may be re-installed. The screw pin to the shackle should be facing downward when installing. In FIG. 6E, it should be appreciated that the safety clamp should not be installed onto the s-hook of the load cell arm, as the s-hook is not rated for supporting weight. In FIG. 6F, the rod rotator and actuator lever may be identified. The spring cable may then be removed from the lever. In FIG. 6G, the screw pin may be removed from the 5/16″ shackle, and the shackle holes may be lined up with the hole on the actuator lever spring cable hole. The screw pin may be installed through the holes. It should be appreciated that the screw pin should be facing toward the body of the rod rotator. FIG. 6H depicts the safety clamp when installation is completed in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The safety clamp according to embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a safer alternative when working with polished rods, load cells, and rod rotators. The safety clamp may be used while removing/installing the polished rod assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the safety clamp may secure the load cell and rod rotator to the polished rod and/or Reduces movement of the rod rotator and load cell during installation or removal of the polished rod assembly. The safety clamp may provide overall simplicity of design and ease of use. It may provide a safer alternative to using rope or chain. It may lower risk of injury and may safeguard fingers and hands from being crushed during pulling unit operations.

Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.